<em>Musk with the Tesla Model S in Fremont on Oct. 1, 2011.</em>
In a radio interview today, Telsa CEO Elon Musk spoke about future demand for Tesla’s vehicles.
“I think the demand for the Model 3 is going to be very good,” said Musk today’s Marketplace report.
“As it is, we’ve got pretty good demand for the X and the S. And I think over time, the combined X and S demand is, you know, maybe a hundred thousand units per year, or maybe a bit more as we mature various markets,”
100,000 units is approximately double Tesla’s current annual production rate. Tesla is expected to deliver around 50,000 Model S and X vehicles this calendar year, according to their latest guidance, compared to 32,000 in 2014.
Musk doesn’t mention how long it will take Tesla to achieve the 100k delivery rate, but Tesla has yet to saturate large luxury car markets such as China, and the Model X is just begining its production.
Tesla’s goal of 500,000 total vehicles per year still stands, but will include 300,000 to 400,000 third generation vehicles.
“And with the Model 3 and various iterations on that platform, I’m really confident that we can do, you know, another three or four hundred thousand cars per year,” said Musk.
Bonus: Musk discusses the Falcon door difficulties around 16 min in the clip below. The biggest problem with the doors were the hydraulic actuators. Tesla had to switch to electric actuators for precision, and better reaction times.
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I find it interesting that he said that he expects to “be with SpaceX and Tesla for as long as the future” he can “imagine” (or something like that, at around 20:04). Before, he said he would leave after the successful introduction of a mass market car.
He never said he would leave Tesla. He always said he will be with Tesla until the end. He said he will not be CEO forever. Not the same thing. He is also Chairman and Product Architect at Tesla.
Yes, you’re right. My mistake. He didn’t say he would leave Tesla completely. But it’s clear that his main interest is SpaceX and I wonder how much time he will devote to Tesla after the completion of the Secret Tesla Motors Master Plan.